Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, Minister of Culture, has appointed Arnaud Schaumasse as Director of the Department of Underwater and Underwater Archaeological Research (DRASSM) based in Marseille.
Associate of Geography and Civil Administrator, Arnaud Schaumasse first held several positions in the Ministry of the Interior. Until now he was Assistant Director of Archaeology in the Directorate-General for Heritage and Architecture. As such, he conceived the policies of inventory, study, protection, conservation and transmission of archaeological heritage.
With this expertise, he will unite the DRASSM teams around projects for the study and conservation of underwater and sub-aquatic archaeological heritageand will ensure that the establishment’s level of excellence is maintained in liaison with all its national and international partners.
The DRASSM’s mission is to implement the State’s policy of archaeological management and research at the national maritime public domain of 11 million km². It inventories, studies, protects, preserves and enhances the archaeological heritage submerged in all the marine waters under French jurisdiction, both in mainland France and overseas. It also provides advice and support to archaeological sites in inland waters, particularly in the treatment of material and documentation collected. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for detection and robotics—including the Alfred Merlin, a new research vessel christened on July 2—which makes it a reference in the field of sub-archaeological research.As a marine scientist, he contributes to the training of future scientific staff for the Ministry of Culture and its partners.
Arnaud Schaumasse will succeed as of 1er Frédéric Leroy, who has been acting in the management of DRASSM since Michel l'Hour asserted his retirement rights after an exemplary career in the service of heritage. Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin salutes the committed action of Michel L'Hour over the past fifteen years which has enabled DRASSM to increase its national and international reach and deepen the field of archaeological knowledge.